An Italian Professor's Perspective on an American Consumer Organization

This paper describes the personal experiences of an Italian professor who attended conferences in the US and his interaction with the American academic community through becoming a member of an American consumer organization. The author stresses the benefit he gained by remaining in contact with colleagues from the US and at the same time he provides his perspective on the American academic system. The author s encourages colleagues, especially young scholars, who live and work outside the US to enlarge their network and to remain in contact with American colleagues.